Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with diabetes, whether it’s because we know someone who has been diagnosed with it or just from learning about it in passing. A less familiar condition is prediabetes which is when blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be categorized as type 2 diabetes. Luckily, prediabetes can be reversed — it just takes a few lifestyle changes like exercise and diet.
Managing blood sugar levels is extremely important to our overall health and not just because it lower our risk of developing diabetes. High blood sugar has been linked to inflammation, heart disease, and kidney disease. To help manage blood sugar levels, here’s a list of foods that won’t magically lower blood sugar (you’ll need medication to do that), but they all have a low Glycemic Index (GI) which means they won’t raise blood sugar like many other foods.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon doesn’t just enhance the flavour of drinks and foods, it can also help manage blood sugar levels! This is all due to a compound that improves the body’s sensitivity to the hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood. Not only does it regulate blood sugar levels, but cinnamon can also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels — both of which are huge risk factors for diabetes, says Better Nutrition.
Like many foods, you still need to remember to eat cinnamon in moderation. Better Nutrition advises only about 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon per day. The source also says it contains coumarin which can pose problems if it’s consumed in a high dosage.
